THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the High Court allowing the survey to continue for the social impact study of the SilverLine project, the government will expedite the process despite the objections. The aim is to publish the report by conducting a social impact study within 100 days of the completion of the stone laying.

K-Rail MD V Ajithkumar will hold discussions with Railway Board Chairman VK Tripathi in Delhi today as part of seeking central approval. The Railways-K Rail joint survey will begin this month ahead of the release of 185 hectares of railway land.

The current study aims to ensure fair compensation and rehabilitation for those who give up land and to understand the social impact of the project. Boundary stones were laid in about half of the areas in Kannur and Kasaragod districts. In other districts, stone-laying has just begun. This will be completed in two months.

Stone laying and survey

Stones are installed on private land by issuing notification under section six (one) of the Survey Boundary Act for the mandatory social impact study. Land will not be acquired at this stage.

Joint inspection

Southern Railway and K-Rail are launching a joint inspection to answer the queries raised by the central government. The Centre had pointed out the vagueness over the technical aspects like alignment plan, figures regarding railway land and private land, existing crossings and affected railway land. These matters will be clarified through a joint examination.

Survey can continue: HC

The High Court Division Bench quashed the order of the single bench stopping the survey in Silver Line. A division bench led by the Chief Justice quashed the order restraining the survey of the complainants' land. The directive to disclose the details of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was also omitted.

The division bench stated that the state government has the power to conduct a survey and place an appropriate marker (survey stone) for the social impact study of the SilverLine project.

The judgment stated that the government has the power to conduct the survey with the intention of acquiring land for public use as per the provisions of the Kerala Survey and Boundaries Act.

Nearly 20 petitioners approached the single bench seeking a stay of the survey proceedings. The petitioners asserted that the land survey was illegal and should be stopped. Based on this, the single bench stopped the survey proceedings and directed the government to provide the details on the basis of which the DPR was prepared. The single bench stayed all the land acquisition proceedings of the petitioners. The state government appealed to the division bench questioning this.